Controlling mechanism for looms.



H. P. MERRIAM.

CONTBOLLING HBCHANISK FOB LOOKS.

ArPLIoA'rxox nu Knus, 1911.

1,000,746. Patented Aug. 15,1911.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A u1,/1//1/1/1/1/1/1//1/1 I v n H. P. MERRIAM. CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOB LOOKS.

ArPLxcu-xon nun 1511.23. 1911.

1,000,746. n ratendAug. 151911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HENBY' P. mnnnmn. or NEW vom; N. Y.

CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOB LOOKS.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

Application led Hatch 28, 1911. Serial lo. 617,491.

To au 'whom 'it may. concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY P. Maxaman, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the. borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controlling Mechanism for Looms, of which the following is a-specication.

In my Patent No. 981,299 granted to me January 10th, 19111 have covered a controlling mechanism for looms comprising essentially a fluid pressure actuated controlling device and means controlled by the presence or absence of weft in the act-ive shuttle for regulating the pressure applied to said controlling device. In the practical devlopmentof the mechanism covered by said patent, I have roduced certain improvements in the v ved contact member which not only simplify and chapen the construction, but increase the sensitivene and accuracy of the mechanism. These improvements constitute the subject of the present application.

In the improved form of pneumatic filling detecting device, the tubular weft contacting member is provided with a pressure controlling valve arranged at the contact end of said member so as toreduce to a minimum the clearance space between.- the valve and the-filling carrier and provide a more direct communication between the weft contacting member and the duid preure actuated condevice. With this im rovedv structure. t e controlling valve-is eld open all the time that the contact member is xn Aoontact with the illing carrier and is partaking of its backward and forward motions, so

that I am able to reduce to a'minitnum the' interval of contact of said member with th iilling carrier, Thus the movement of the i contact member' is`the more completely romember is made eective with'a lightness of -touch on the lllmg turbs' the windings of the on the cop or bobbin, which otherwise t befbrken which -in no way dis-- down and disarran ed, and thereby cause the breakage of the lling from the tangling of the thread. The location of the controlling valve at the contact end of the weft contacting member also facilitates the employment of a simpler form of valve which is more reliable thanl the form sharm in the mechanism of my above named patent'.

In addition to theabove recited advantages of my improved form of weft contact- 1n member in a general sense, there are otr er advanta incident to specific forms of the mechanism hereinafter referredto.

In order that my invent-ion may be fully understood, I will lirst describe the same withl reference to the accompanying drawings, and afterward int out the novelty more particularly in t e annexed claims.

'In said drawings: Figure 1 is a detail plan view of part of a 100m having my improved nenmatic controlling mechanism applied creto. Fig'. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the improved pneumatic weft contact' member. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudina sectional view of the same. Fig. 4 is an end "iew of the contact end of said member. 5 is a view similar to 2 of a slight modification. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 ofthe -form shown in Fig. 5. F 7 is a view similar to 4 of the same orm. F` 8 is a det-aiLsectlonal plan Aview of a furt er modification. showing a form of the controlling devi articularly applicable to the co ling. Fig. 9 is a detail verti longitu inal sectional view of parts of the same. Fig. 10 is n.

detail longitudinal sectional view of the valved contact member 'of the form of` device shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is a face view of, thecontact members shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view of a further modification showing a form of device articularly applicable for use with a bogbin having a ribbed conidal winding head. Fig. 13 is a detail view of the form of device shown in Fig. 12. Figs. 14; 15, 16, 17 'and 18 are det-ail views illustrating further modifications in the form of the weft contact member of the improved controlling device.

It will be understood that the improved weft contact device hereinafter described is ,intended to be employed in connection with a fluid pressure actuated loom conttollin device such as set forth in my above Patent No. 981,299. In Fig. 1 of the drawings I have shown the essentialparts of urpmi.'lmfpiotrmh fiih une end in ensuch :i mechanism. 1n this figure of the hum-ings, l represents tlxcbreut:.fbm'frthe lay bnr, :md 3 the shuttle box at the left hangl en cl of Athe: lay bar; reprcsents-a. shuttle'in'ille shuttle box 3zipd. ll 'the weft bobf hin. mounted in the shntile in the lisual wig-' gugenwnl wiih the controlling lever 3U und f `-shivh the retaining pin 'e iur holding 'die torgl. lowfLlm d Sinn spring 10 :il rion. 'flnun that' it is"nmux'itueclA ii; fire 'lsiial 'mannen l the shoulda-"11 -formeel in -ihelpla'tqv pffthe g j bre-:lstbemn 1,.::nd when-the baiis diengagd from Asaid*shoii{( lfzrgfits s fing 5 moves it to the left (if 12in the s o@ 12 in a-manixcl: undeltoqd. 154'is n leven; dizipliri gni t. e iamug phi-agili is :l port or which eninlnunlcnte slide :'26 which is t@ the opening of the self-adjustin contact head 110. This self-adjusting head 110 is shaped to t snugly in the crescent-shaped opening formed in the inner end of the sliding member 70 and is free to adjust itself in a horizontal plane upon the member 70. The means for adjustably connecting the head 110 upon the member "Z0 are fully explained in ,mv above named Patent No. 981,299 and form no part of the present invention. The contact head 110 is formed with a longitudinal bore or passageway 111 extending through it and with a weft engaging face 11?` formed with an internal shallow 113 with which the passxgeway 111 communicates. A circular valve seat 114 is formed in the passageway 111 adjacent to its juncture with the recess 113. A ball valve 115 is fitted upon the valve seat 114 and yieldingly held in place thereon by means of a short expansion spring 116 located in the passageway 111 and confined in working position by a small pin 117 extendigg across paageway 111 and properly seat in the side walls of the head 110. The location of the valve seat 114 and the size of the ball valve 115 are such that the ball will project slightly beyond the' contact face 112 of the head 110 so that #when said head is moved into engagement with the weft carrier or the filling wound theren, the ball will be unseated to open up communication between the shallow recess 113 and the passageway 111. lith this form of the deit will be understood particularly with reference to my above named Patent No. 981,299, that in the operation of the loom equipped with my improved controlling mechanism, the supply of air under pressure beneath the contro ling diaphragm retains the controlled dog 28 out'of the path of the weft hammer. This` air is maintained b.- neath the diaphragm by the valve 115 in the contact head 110 of the weft detecting mmber. Upon capi alternate movement of the lay toward t le breast beam, the shuttle comes int?) position in the shuttle box at the left' hand`end of the lay and as the shuttle box reaches the limit of its movement toward the breast beam, the contact head 110 is prented through the openings 4 and 5* of the shuttle box and shuttle and brought into engagement with the weft woundnpon the bobbin or other form of weft carrier in the shuttle. This engagement lmseats the hall valve 115 and opens up communication between the recess 113 and channel 111 whichis in free communication with the diaphnigm chamber. If, however, there is suicient le h of weft upon the bobbin at the moment o said engagement, the recessed face A of the heal 110 will be completely closed by' the yielding weft being pressed against sind rececd face, the head 110 automatically adjnsting itself upon the member 70 to lit snugly against the weft in such engagement and thereby preventing the escape lof the air under pressure from the recess 113. In thisI manner the Wound weft prevents the material reduction in the pressure beneath the diaphragm so that the controlled dog will be retained out of the path of the weft hammer. The engagement of the wound weft with the detectingdevice occurs during the completion of the forward movement of the lay toward the breast beam, the member yielding slightly to permit such movement.' .This operation continues for each alternate movement of the lay toward the breast beam. As the weftis used upfrom the active shuttle, the self-adjusting head 110 of the detecting device automatically corrects its osition for each engagement so as to close t 1e escape for compressed air so long as suicient weft remains in the shuttle or a succeeding to and fro flight. Vixen the weft is nearly exhausted and the grooved winding head of the bobbin becomes partly uncovered, there will not be suliicient weft left to close the recsed face of the head 110, so that upon the unseating of the valve 115, the a ir under pressure beneath the diaphragm and in the channels leading therefrom to the valve will escape and the reduced presure will lower the diaphragm suiciently to fall into the path of the wefthammer, which upon its next succeeding stroke, will engage the depressed dog and operate the slide tor stopping the loom or actuating the weft .re= plenishing mechanism.

InF' 5,6and7of the drawings,1 show a ight modiiication of the pneumatic weft detecting member in which adifferent form of valve is employed. The slide member 70 is provided with the selfadjusting head 110 as in theform above described. The contact face 112 of head 110 is formed with a. recess 113* of slightly dierent shape, with lateral extensions or notches 113" to atlord a slightly increased escape for the air permit the controlled dog to los when the relief valve-is opened. In place of the ball valve above described, this form of the device includes a conical valve formed on a short hollow guide c linder 121 which tits in the channel 111 o the head. Guide slots 122 are formed in the cylinder 121 and a transverse pin 123 seated-inthe side walls of the head 110. extends transversely of the channel 111 and engages theY l plate141 j i as the top-an bottom plates 140, but-being 12S which is llaltt-m'd and 'sharpened slight-ly at its outer 'end to enable' it to' penetrate \\`7' ft carrie r, the position of said 'tiattencd 10 p ili'l ,ing suc-ii that its"longer'trensver rrilllie parallel u'iih the windings: of the weft upontlic carrier." This flattened head `1 Q: 't h A`a 'verjf' slight' degree.` ln the operation of this' inmlitied forni 'of :filling detectigieienilir: it vrill'lie uiidersl'oifgl tlizit normalllyi (vill ',cnbcd its-elf between the '.vin'dings of sin not l)e o1`,\t "-\d 'ilntil ieftor filling l' of exhaustion;

sistinir c'oref of the' filling carrier will-'pre s nearly ref.

the i'alreiuore and more as the tilting 'upon against'thecndofthe valve p inand'uxunrt mated when um@ is solnaifiuing 'lea-s upon the murier, vthatwhen the valve is opened as explainedxthe 'air' \il.l escape` the 'lccessed face of the Contact head .zuid 'the diaphragmaviIl be lowered .suificicntly to allc'iv the operation of the controlled mechanism. 11a-Eme;

0 uopor quillsucli as indicaietlat 130 in Fig. S of the draw-hiss, the [quill is supported upon a skewer and tlc weft or fillingr wound thereon byiiist 'winding sert-ral layers upon -the quill aud-then gradually extendingr the 5 Windingout oren the siren-er. In applying. my invention -to this form of fillingsr wndingfitis desirable to not only limit the action of: Giel-weft detecting device to the zoneof thesmall quill which is the base or s lipporbfor'the wound filling. but also to prevei it tlie feeling or detecting Operation ofjthe device until the. main body of the fill- "in`g become exhausted. These results aregacomplished by the :form of my inventiif shown in Figs. S. to 11. ln this form of' the device, I provide a dierent supy, porting bracket for the filling detectingr member, which bracketeomprises top and bottom plates ofthe shape shown at 140 6 having lateral guide flanges 140* and 140". These.plates 140 are secured together upon the breast beam of the loom with a spacing plate 141 separating them, said spacing of the same general outline bottoni .plates ingr carrier in the shuttle."Thwslidino mex'nbcr 145 has rigidly secured'l it "i of" metal 150 as shown in Fig. 'Q 'lliisf4 metal tube 150 extends longitudi`nally `of 95 the slide member 145 and is of thsariie length thereof. Freely mounted in theiidf of the tube 130 is au automatically adjustfY able Contact head 155 formed with spheroidal side walls which tit snugly in the bore of the tube 150. The shape of this head enables it to more universally inits summa-ting! tube 150. The head 155 is of hollow formation as shown in Fig. 10 and the inner nipple extension 156 is seated in the end of a short section of rubber pipe 15? which extends into the metal tube 150 and is confined in proper position by the internal {lange 15S at the forward end of the tube. This rubber tube 157 is designed to be attached to the bianch pipe 561 of the coupling 56 so that the adjustable head 155 will be in open communication with the diaphragm chamber illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The described mounting of the head 155 with only the rubber tube 15T to hld it. in place will enable said head to more into the tube 150 by a slight longitudinal compression of tube 157 and also to change its angular relation upon the end of the tube 150 to enable it to accurately adjust its contact face to the surface of the filling?r or filling carrier. The contact face of the head 155 is formed with Shallow grooves or recesses 155* extending across it as indicated in Fig. 11. These grooves communicate with the' central opening 15:5 in the contact face. Mounted in the head 155 is a valve 160 consxs-Iz` of a t' lu\ wound spiral spring sold or otlzjvu i secured at 161 in the recessed inner wall of the contact head and soldered or otherwise attached at 162 to the headed end of the controlling pin 163 which extends longitudinally of the head 155 and projects to a limited' extent. beyond the contact face ofthe head 1 55. It will beA understood that in the form of valve shown in Fig. 10, the spiral spring constitutes the valve as wellv as the-valve spring since the convolutions of the spring lit snugly together and form an air-tight valve. T e valve is operated by forcing the pin 163 inwardly which opens the convolutions of the spring valve more or less to allow air to pass from the channel of the head 155 into the bore of the spring valve and out through the centra] opemng 155" to the recessed face of the head. In the operation of the form of the device .just described, it will be understood that, so long as the .filling upon the cp or quill retaiiis approximately its original shape at its base as indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawings, the body of the lilling will engage the inner end of the sliding member 145 every time the shuttle nioves toward the detecting device, and that the detecting device will yield under this action without having any eiect upon the pneumatic control. In this normal engagement ofthe filling with the detecting device, it will be observed that the `univel-sally adjustable head 155 is held out of engagement with the tillin because of the contour of the wound filling. This opera'tion continues until the greater part of the filling is removed .f1-om the cop or quill. When the filling is reduced to the several layers immediately surrounding the quill, it 40 will be observed that there will no longer be any lling in the path of the slide member 145, but that the valved h'ead 155 will be brought directly into contact with the wound lling. For the trst few engagements of .the filling with the head 155, the slightly projecting valve pin 163 will embed itself in the filling and thevalve will notbe opened. As the operation progresses, however, the end of the pin will come in contact with the harder surface of the cop or quill with the result that the relief valve 160 will be opened to a greater or less extent. If suicientfilling still upon the quill, the recessed face of the head 155 will be covered sulcie ntly to prevent the 'escapedrair from the h The moment, however. that the illing has reached4 such a degree of exhaustion that the escape of air from the re eessed face/of the head 155 is no longer pre- 55 vented, it will be understood that the o pening of the valve will permit a suicient escape of air to lower the controlling phragm t'ocause the automatic mechanism toioperate. In the varying operationspi thisrform ofvdevice, it will be undei'stod that the contact head 155 automatically adjusts its contact face to the surface of the filling upon the quill, so as to effect a more uniform bearing upon the filling when the valve comes into operation with the result that the air released by the valve istrapped inthe face of the head while there is sulficient filling left upon the uill for this purpose. Thls automatic a justmentof the contact head is of great advantage by reason of the factthat, in addition to the variations in the compressibility of the filling material at the several points immediately under the surface of contact of the head with the tilli due to the progressive unwinding of the l ing and the lack of exactness of longitudinal positioning of the shuttle in its box 'from stroke to stroke, there is also a lack of exactne in the vertical positioning of the shuttle, .so that the axis of the shuttle is not always a fixed distance above the shuttle race. l

' In Figs. 12 @.13 I show a further modication embodying the same form of spring valve shown in Fig, 10', but providing means for more accurately detectine the proper point of exhaustion of the tiln upon the form of bobbin provided with" the grooved tapered winding head or base. In this form of -detecting device a tubular member of any suitable general shape, such as indicated at 165. is designed to be yeldingly mounted upon the breast beam of the loom in some suitable manner, such for instan as described in connection with 1 of .the 190 drawings. This tubular member 165 has a central bore or channel 166 extending through it and a shouldered outlet 16T which is mounted a springealve 168 of the construction above descri in connection with Fig. 10 of the drawings. A valve 169 projects from the valve 168 a trie yond the face of the tubular member 165. The wall of the tubular member 165 is bored longitudinally from its contact face parallel with its axis to form gnideways 170 in which are mounted the legs of a yoke-shag valve-operating member 171. This mem 171 extends diametrically actos the contact face of tubular member 165 in enga ent with the projecting' end of the valve pm 169., so that u n depressing the member 171 the valve wil be forced open. The end of the tubular member 165 is reduced slightl as indicated at- 175 to receivers. soft ru 120 sleeve 176 which by reason oftselasticity, f is drawn closely around the contact face of tubular member 165 end into n :n: t with the yoke member 171 'for latter in place. Figs. 12 and 13 clearly show .this arra ent. In y A lof-tlns 18st descri form n1- tlm ean'willbe understood that the duid p apta-ated controlling device only at time, 119011 thenpenmgoft valve 13 25 ribs. of the boftlvbilfi.4 This form of 30 or more 4Q tubularA elide mein' 5j; finan-infiel i IUS. that. the filling remaining upon the bobbiu i iimitlieieut to cheek the ewapc of air from the cupped Contact` face outlined b v the edge of the. rubber sleeve 176. The 5 staple or volw-Shaped v lve operai-ing :neuiber .171' will open the valve ltSavheu it eugag one or more of the circular ribs upon lthe bobbiu. or whe'y'l the filling upon the bolsbiu affords Sufficient' tance to the cuoi-A the spring of the valvelGS 'lbenubber sleeve 176 is capable .of being p'reeed only 'part- \va v into the grooves' of the'lmbbin 4so'that. in the absence of iilling'upouthe lmiibint the cseapeof V air is'"not' cheek ed by The sleeve.

W'ith this arrangement, I a'm able to reduce the quantity of tillmf left n'ponihe bobln'n to a minimum, font e reason "thats-u long a`s there is..sufl i'cieut filling )round in the grooves of tiie-bobbn' to forni a tigl'it contact with the edge of the rubber sleeve, vthe air under pressure will be held from'escpe even though the '\'al'\'e' s opened b v the engage* ment of member A1'1'1 with' the' projecting device also has the advantage 'ofjrlcre aeczuatelj' deter- ','mining theproper`.p9int, .o f acnmting' the automatic ithroul'out or shuttle changing inechanism'befeauee o'i't operation 'b v one 'of the projectinvhoulde' or ribs,

irheras 'inthe form oderice dependent upon the 'engagex`nent oftli'esngle projectpin of thefial steni o i rod, 'the varialon inthesliu'ttle 'ofnnifor'rnity in the p IQ, ifhgavegshoivtn auof detect'-" device employing a cad. "In thif'form the ndiat'edat 180'has irriteentra contact head 181 formed 'with' an-inter'nal cgv'ity 182 and soft ulgberfcon therentrlly `Separated valve 'lips 183. which e'eonta'ct head,"

. ratei Lib lips .1.53 aS .valve 1 'and tilting.

will allowed; 4toffea'uipe' form of device illustrated in Fig; 14, ,l5 and 16, slifhtly mmlilied by adding to the yielding ruober contact head 181, suitable corrufvated er rooved wearing `tri s ISG l which are of some. hard and unyleldiug material. In this form of the (levire, the air not so completely trapped between the allav of the contact,- head andV the bobb/in The` advantages resulting from lhe mounting of the relief valve i'n-the contactend of the weft detecting member are rstn. the reduction to a minimum ofthe learance-- space between the valveand weft. carrier, with the. result that there isrno material loss of compressed air while the 100m is operating normally; second: the provision of a more direct communication from the diaphraguvto the valve contact end of the weft detecting 'nuernberg and third.: thcsimpiification of the 4structure, which results in increased accuracy and wearing qualities.

In illustrating the application of my preM-nt invention to the control of looms, I have hmtu and described it as applied to a pneumatic loom controlling mechanism such covered by )ny prior Patent. Xo. 981.295). I wouldv have :it indem-tomi that T do not-intend to limit-amy preent inven- 'tion to this speciiic--fonn of .controlling uicehanism, but intend in myc claims4 to cover a pneumaticy presa-.tue 4activiteit controlling' device. for .leonie in -the lbroadest peihle .t-noe. controlling mechanism may be variously eonstrucedlmthzaa to the 'arrangeicnto parts of the pressure actuated device and as to the .ai-rangement. -of the detecting device with reference to the shuttle For instaneeg'u place ofthe. ar- :rangement shown.

in which the. detecting device is pnsented -through regitering openings in' thcshuttle box'aud shuttle for 'engaging the weft.. carrier or .weft wound thereon upon on'e side` it will be perfectly 'clear that the principle of my invention can be 'readily carried out by other arrange ments, bv. which-.the detecting' device can be brought into contact.- with the..\veft car-4 rier or' 'weft round thereon ati-any other side.

'hat I claimis: 1. In :x controlling mechanism for looms.

'the combination of 'a pneumatic weft detcctmg device-and a presure relief .valve 1n the' vcontactendof said device, with a pressure'aetuatcd controllin device in comuni- `nieation with said detecting device. ins'upoxi th'e'lnbbin tol 2. In a controlling mechanism for looms`V the. combination of a pneumatic weft detox-ting device. and a presure relief valve mounted inthc contact end of said device and adapted to be operated by the engagement of. the weft. carrier or the weft wound thereon7 with a' preure actuated controlling device. in cozmnmicatien with said dclis tecting device, and a source of air pressure communicating with said controlling device.

3. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a yieldingly mounted pneumatic weft detecting,r device, andl a normally closed pressure relief vali-'e mounted in the contact end of said device, with a pressure actuated controlling device in communication with said detecting device, and a source of air pressure communicating with said controlling device.

4. In a controlling mechanism-for looms, the combination of a pneumatic weft detecting device, an automatically adjustable weft contacting head mounted upon said detecting device, and a pressure relief valve mounted in the contact end of said head, with a pressure actuated controlling device in communication with said head.

In a controlling mechanism for looms, th combination of a yieldingly mounted pneumatic weft detecting device, an automatically adjustable wcft contacting head mounted upon said detecting device, and a .pressure relief valve mounted in the contact end of said head and adapted to be operated by contact with the weft carrier or weft wound thereon, with a pressure actuated controlling device incommunication with said head.

6. In a controlling, mcchanism for looms, the combination of a yicldingly mounted pneumatic weft detecting device. a self-adjusting weft contacting head movabljv mounted upon said detecting device, and a normally closed pressure relief valve mountedin the contact end of said head. with a pressure actuated controlling device in com` munication with said detectingdevice.

7. In a controlling mechanism for looms. the combination of a pneumatic weft detecting device. a weft contacting head thereon formed with a recessed contact face, and a pressure relief valve mounted in the recessed contact end of said head, with a pressure actuated controllingr device in communication with Vsaiddetecting device.

S. In a controllingr mechanism for looms, the combination of .i pneumatic wett detecting device having a tubular weft contacting head. and a pressure relief valve mounted in the contact end of said tubular head, with a preure actuated controlling device communicating with said detecting device.

pressure actuated controlling device coml municating with said weftdetecting device 10. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a we ft detecting device, a weft contacting head carried lthcreby, a normally closed pressure relief valve mountedin the cont-act end o said head, and a valve opening member projecting beyond the contact face of said head, with a pressm'e actuated controlling device in communication with said head.

11. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a weft detecting device having a tubular weft contacting head, and a normally closed spring actuated pressure relief valve mounted i n said head, with a pressure actuated controlling device in Acommunication with said contacting head.A

12. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a weft detecting device having a tubularweft contacting head, a normally closed Spring actuated pressure relief valve mounted in said head and a valve Y stem attachedto and projecting from said valve to a point slightly beyond the contact face of said head, with a pressure actuated controlling device in communication with said contacting head.

13. 'In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pneumatic weft detecting device having a tubular weft cpntacting head, a tightly wound spiral spring -sccured in said tubular head and constituting a rassure relief valve, andrgneans for operating said valve, with a pressure actu-v ated controlling device communicatng 14. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a pneumatic weft detecting device having a tubular weft contacting head, a tiohtlywound spiral spring of tubular form raving an o n outer end in communication with t e outlet openngof said head and projecting into the cavity of the head and formed with a closed inner end and constituting a pressure relief valve, and means for operating 'said v alve, with a pressure actuated controlling `device communieating with said head.

15. In a controlling mechanism for looms, the combination of a' pneumatic weft detecting device having a tubular weft contacting head, a tightly wound spiral Spring of tubular form having an open outer end in free communication withthe outlet opening of said head and projecti int-o the cavity of the head and formed wit a closed inner end and constituting a pressure relief valve, l. valve stem attached to the closed innerjend of said spiral spring valve and extending 'thcrefrom, to a point slightly beyond the contact face of said head, with a preure actuated controlling device communicating with said head.

1roA

lll

16. In a. controlling-mechanism for looms,

liiigfdevice c'onununicating with said head.

*upon-'the weft? carrier. .af pneumatic tubular the combination of a pneumatic weft detectl ingf-devicehuving n. tubular weft contacti ing head, a iioigmally'closed pressure relief mlrc-'moiinted in'.thef ontact'f end 'of said l heed .and v -valrestem projecting from said tact-.face ofsaidhea ,ii'ith a pressure actu'- ateldnj controlling. device'oonirnunicating with saidfdetecting device.

1211.111; 'controlling mechanism for looms. j

" the combination of a pneumatic wett de- 5 tecting device having a tubular weft cong h'eacL'a .normally .closed pressure.. reiftimiveunounted -in the contact -end of t sxidhdfanl a valve-stem p rojec'tingfrom sai-.valve-.o a point slightl)` beyond tnc i cout'ct :Enceof said head, Asind formed with a'-.llat.tenedouter end haring. its longer` axis lying-'parallel vwith tliethreud uouii'd upon i ,the-u'eft carrier-,- with -a.pi'essiiie actuated coutollingderiee conununicating with said 'detediiig-device. a

18'. In a-contifollinggmeehanisni for looms. Ythe*conibiiif'ition' ojf a .i-oft, detecting meni- -ber adapted'toengcge the body of weft EWound upon. a. weft-,carrier in the active fsliuttle'; aupneumntie :weft detectingr and contacting heidv mounted :it-one side of said detecting device. in position to engage the i `i" -Wft= wound upon-1li@ base of the ,weft car- 'riergan'd api-essuie relief valve mounted in said hea'cLJWith a pressiu'e actuated control- 19; 'In :1 controlling mechanism foi: looms'. the' combination of ,a slide member adapted tocont:ist' iviih the body' of the weft u'ound weft contacting head mounted upon said slide 'meinberlin position to be engaged by 'the weft Wound upon the base of the weft vnlv inf sad-11`ead; wiclrapressure actuated 2 0.' Inga controlling mechanism for looms, the combintionbfa slide member. adapted sure actuated controlling devicein to contact with tlie body of the weft u'ound upon the weftcari-ier. atulmlzir u'iember mounted upon Suid slide -meuibei'7 :i pneumatic ircft contacting lic-.id loosely mounted in said tubular member, un elastic pipe secured in said tubular Imcmbeinud :iitached to said beadv io yieldingly support it in operative position. an automatic pressure relief valve mounted in said head. :ind n pressure actuated controlling device iii coinmunication with said elastic pipe.

21. In a controlling mechanism for l'ooius.

the combination of-a slide' inei'iibcr adapted to contact with'tlie bodyth'e weft 'ivound 'upon the weft cari-iena tubular nieuibcr mounted upon' said slide membcig a ,pneushape fitting loos'eli in said tubular menibcr, im elastic pipe secured insaid tubular member and attachedto said'head to yieldingly` support: it ini-operative position, an automatic pressure relief valve mounted in said headg and'ressureactuated controlling device in communication with said elastic contacting head loosely ixzounted said Atubular member with its contact face' 1n approximatelythe'sameplne as the 'contact .-zice of saidslide member, an elastic Apipe secured in said tubular member and attached tov said head to `yildinglysupport it in 'operative position, an automatic pressure reliet valve mounted in said head, and s prescommunication with said elasticppe. HENRY?. MERRIAM.

' matic weft contacting head 1of spheroidal 

